Manchester United

[Reaver180]

Just watching their game against Aston Villa. They are absolutely frightening. Your boys will have to push hard to get 3 points in your game against them. The title is theirs to lose.

[Gem]

Welcome to the forum, Sherlock.

Derby weren't scared and gave it everything, and were very unlucky to lose. Villa roll over and wait for it to get stuck up them. Of course the Mancs are good, but if you lay down to any team they're gonna look half decent, look how we made Tottenham look !!!

Hopefully players with bigger balls come up against them.

[glory55]

Welcome to the forum, Sherlock.

Gem thats a touch harsh!!

He's right in what he says.

[Gem]

Going soft on me Glory? Surely not

Derby County - They're not very good.

[Reaver180]

Welcome to the forum, Sherlock.

Derby weren't scared and gave it everything, and were very unlucky to lose. Villa roll over and wait for it to get stuck up them. Of course the Mancs are good, but if you lay down to any team they're gonna look half decent, look how we made Tottenham look !!!

Hopefully players with bigger balls come up against them.

They didn't roll over, they were simply outplayed and mainly thanks to Ronaldo who got 1 goal and 3 assists. Villa did not commit many particular mistakes, all the goals were the result of great attacks by Manchester United. I am curious though just how good they are if they have to play without Ronaldo for an extended period of time.

[mudasar]

i know villa havnt played well and the only good results they have all season are against us but everytime i think a team mite push utd they end up thrashing them.

[JT26CFC]

ronaldo made that game look too easy. His goal took him absolutley no effort and his set up for rooney was effortless too.

[Gem]

Welcome to the forum, Sherlock.

Derby weren't scared and gave it everything, and were very unlucky to lose. Villa roll over and wait for it to get stuck up them. Of course the Mancs are good, but if you lay down to any team they're gonna look half decent, look how we made Tottenham look !!!

Hopefully players with bigger balls come up against them.

They didn't roll over, they were simply outplayed and mainly thanks to Ronaldo who got 1 goal and 3 assists. Villa did not commit many particular mistakes, all the goals were the result of great attacks by Manchester United. I am curious though just how good they are if they have to play without Ronaldo for an extended period of time.

Ronaldo is bloody brilliant. Gonna get a backache soon though, carrying 10 men every week surely isn't doing him too good.

Humbug.

[ethicalstrategy]

ronaldo made that game look too easy. His goal took him absolutley no effort and his set up for rooney was effortless too.

If you mean the third goal it was a bit of good fortune. He was trying to lay it off to Evra? and misdirected straight in to Rooney's path. Their first goal was a gift too. Desperate defending to give the ball to Ronaldo - but a terrific finish.

Villa had no answer. Utd's movement undid them.

They won't find it so easy against another top team - obviously. But they were good today.

[clubhappy]

We can beat them at home but i cant see them losing any other games.

[Alan]

Just saw Ronaldo's goal, sheer class. I hate his diving antics but he is a brilliant player.

[mudasar]

there is no doubting he is the best player in the world right now, no one even compares close

[TheWestwayWonder]

They even showed that goal on the top ten highlights on ESPN here stateside.......and thats saying something

[mad_mac]

they have been showing quite a few goals on ESPN lately, think they are slowly accepting "soccer"

However, would anyone be suprised if, during the summer, we are linked with signing Ronaldo?

Also, Utd still have to play us and Arsenal....it's getting exciting

Scott

[Elliott]

It is United's title, and i cannot see them throwing it away now.

It's an old cliche, but the table doesnt lie, and they have been far and away the best team.

They're the best in Europe at the moment, with the best player in the world, and if they dont win the Champs League, then they may consider this season to be a disappointment.

I think they might just do it.

[Nibs]

It is United's title, and i cannot see them throwing it away now.

It's an old cliche, but the table doesnt lie, and they have been far and away the best team.

They're the best in Europe at the moment, with the best player in the world, and if they dont win the Champs League, then they may consider this season to be a disappointment.

I think they might just do it.

That sums it up pretty nicely.

Of course I would love us to win the league again this season. But I can't see us doing it and would feel kinda not right if we did. Utd have been so much better than us for long parts of the season I would rather we win it again when we are clearly the best team - like we were the two times we won it under Jose.

[Dorset]

It is United's title, and i cannot see them throwing it away now.

It's an old cliche, but the table doesnt lie, and they have been far and away the best team.

They're the best in Europe at the moment, with the best player in the world, and if they dont win the Champs League, then they may consider this season to be a disappointment.

I think they might just do it.

Contradictions are few and far between in your posts, Elliot, but I hope you don’t mind if I point out this one - If you think United are ‘far and away the best team [in the league]’ and you also think ‘they might just do it’ in the CL, surely, if they are that good, they should be walking away with the Premiership and not still looking over their shoulder. Agreed? No doubt you’ll respond, but in the meantime here’s my take on the current situation and I’ll start by using the Media to back up my point of view…

The much respected journalist [well, at least by me] Martin Samuel got it right in the Times today when he started his piece as follows…”The strangest thing about Manchester United’s season is that it could still end in tears”…and after well justified praise for the team, the gist of which was that they will easily win the Premiership (could be a ten point gap) and, if they do not win the CL, they will have underachieved. He then conclude… “This [the CL] should be their triumph and they must seize the moment, for who knows what the future holds.”

Now my problem with all the ManU Media hype is a simple one and it’s based on my question to Elliot. Put bluntly, if the class gap between us and them is supposedly so great, why are we, let alone the Gunners, so close to their coattails? It shouldn’t be this way, because you don’t have doubts about great teams (that is why they are great), yet it wasn’t long ago that the Mancs were wondering where their next goal was coming from, Citeh (no less) had done the double over them, and games weren’t won if Rooney wasn’t present.

That’s why I sense that the Media are afraid, very afraid, that the big, bad Blue machine is going to roll over their best laid plans for a Fergie finale to end all Fergie finales. That’s why our fixture fiasco with Everton is merely reported on parrot fashion, as opposed to being exposed for the scandalous prejudice it so obviously shows towards Sky’s favourite sons. That’s why Ashley Cole, arguably the best marker of Ronaldo season after season, has already been subjected to the special journalistic softening up process that always seems to precede the important games he plays in.

That’s also why we see pictures of fans falling asleep at the Bridge, interspersed with empty seated areas [where away team supporters do not take up their allocation] and BBC commentators overlay them with sarcastic commentary. That’s also why post match analysis confirms that we always ’get away’ with our 1-0 wins and ‘the opposition didn’t turn up’ for any of the others. That’s also why Chelsea players are forever unsettled, ManU players forever contented and Arsenal players are forever young.

So, if the Media still feel the need to pillory us at every opportunity, it can only be due to them being scared stiff we may spoil a couple of parties inside a couple of months and that, clearly, should not be the fate of a [supposed] truly great team. Perish the thought that such a team will not see their season through to a just conclusion! After all is said and done, the big named players are in red, aren’t they? There are no deserving souls in blue, the Media are busy making sure of that, and a comparison of managers? Well, there is simply no comparison is there? Game over - except it isn’t and a few people are getting a little worried that it all might go pear-shaped.

[Elliott]

The media bias issue aside Dorset, you make some fair comments and i agree that there probably should be a greater points margin between ourselves and United if they are the all conquering side that so many proclaim, but does this mean that we are close to them in terms of quality? I could'nt agree.

I'm not about to sing United's praise's, or single out what supposedly makes them superior, but i think hand on our heart, we all know deep down who should win the league, even if it's hard to admit.

From memory, i dont think they started the campaign too well, and have slipped here and there, but i dont think too many would argue that they have been the best team.

In the last few months, Ronaldo has come to the fore. It's almost as if they start a game one-nil up, because he's nearly always guaranteed to get on the scoresheet! (As annoying as it is!)

Martin Samuel's article this morning was pretty much spot on, however, i believe that he does state Chelsea were 'dominated' at Old Trafford earlier in the season, which, under the circumstances of that particular game, is a bit unfair.

By the way, if you are suggesting that Avram is Ferguson's equal in terms of management, then there is no way that we would see eye to eye on that one!

[ethicalstrategy]

but i think hand on our heart, we all know deep down who should win the league, even if it's hard to admit.

The team with most points over 38 games.

If United want to be truly regarded as exceptional then let's see them beat 95 points in a 38 game season.

[Chippy]

I cant believe anybody is giving up hope when we clearly are still in with a shout,

I thought UTD were good last year and feared that they had improved this while we had'nt but to be five points behind them at this stage regardless what I expect the outcome to be, still fills me with excitement,

They have maybe a few more matchwinners than us and Ronaldo has been superb but when we are up for it we can beat anyone and when you look at the turmoil we have had this season it shows that even if you dribble over there 4-0 victories and write ours off as a bad day for the opposition, Regardless if they win by a goal proffesionally and we do it luckily, we are not far behind them.

They have a great squad and manager who knows his best players and formation but I am sure they wont be relishing a trip to the Bridge as I am sure Fergie wont write off our chances as quick as some of us do.

I know I like a glass half full approach but second place and a final in the CL would be a dream after what I expected for the season and I wont give up hope of being surprised that we have done better.

Good post by Dorset and although we dont agree on much I think you are spot on with the way the media pander to UTD and would be gutted if we upset their applecart.

its the team with the most points that win titles and if UTD are so awsome, surely us pressing them is a good pointer for things to come.

[dkw]

i think its ridiculous that some fans have gave up on the league. i have no fear about manyoos visit to the bridge. ashley cole has had their main player, rolando, in his pocket in pretty much every game theyve ever played. other than him, theirs only really rooney to worry about. and i think its fairly easy for a good player to take him out of the game. so if they drop points between now and then, and we can manage not to drop any, i cant see why we cant go past them then. if anyhing, our ruin is far easier than theirs and the fact we have to play them at home gives us a fairly good chance.

[Dorset]

The media bias issue aside Dorset, you make some fair comments and i agree that there probably should be a greater points margin between ourselves and United if they are the all conquering side that so many proclaim, but does this mean that we are close to them in terms of quality? I could'nt agree.

I'm not about to sing United's praise's, or single out what supposedly makes them superior, but i think hand on our heart, we all know deep down who should win the league, even if it's hard to admit.

From memory, i dont think they started the campaign too well, and have slipped here and there, but i dont think too many would argue that they have been the best team.

In the last few months, Ronaldo has come to the fore. It's almost as if they start a game one-nil up, because he's nearly always guaranteed to get on the scoresheet! (As annoying as it is!)

Martin Samuel's article this morning was pretty much spot on, however, i believe that he does state Chelsea were 'dominated' at Old Trafford earlier in the season, which, under the circumstances of that particular game, is a bit unfair.

By the way, if you are suggesting that Avram is Ferguson's equal in terms of management, then there is no way that we would see eye to eye on that one!

Up until the Arsenal game I was looking into an empty glass where Avram was concerned, and, despite the efforts of the admirable Chippy, it’s still not yet even half full! My point there was that the Media would be aghast if Avram should come through the head-to-head at the Bridge with an impressive win (no comparison, not even worth consideration, yawn) yet it is possible and it could be deficiencies in Fergie’s squad that tell in the end. You wont hear it from the Media, but Saha’s hamstrung their alternatives up front and Fletcher’s injury leaves a hole, albeit on the bench. Any more setbacks playing Roma would highlight their reduced options and make it all the more obvious that our big name/match players outnumber theirs.

Who should or shouldn’t win the league is for the purists to debate and if United had a truly great team there would be no debate. I don’t think they have and I look forward to seeing us prove it, even if nobody else in the Premiership (except, hopefully, Arsenal) has the courage to take them on. Incidentally, I think the Media have got a sneaking suspicion we could expose a few weaknesses and that’s why they are not about to give us anything more than a spoilers chance.

[TomP]

I'm certainly not giving up.

Yes, they are a good team, but they are a young team, and pressure does strange things to people on occaisions.

All we need is one slip up against Arsenal or Boro (who gave both Arsenal and ourselves pretty torid matches), or a miricale from Blackburn or Wigan, and it is back in our hands.

Sure, they are in poll position right now, but if it were the other way round, and we were only 5 clear and yet to go to old trafford, or to take on a very good Arsenal side, I wouldn't consider the league in the bag.

[coco]

Without doubt the best in Europe and probably the world at the moment.

When Drogba scores goals and wins us games single handedly like Ronaldo does, i think, God what would we do without him. Now i know how every manure fan feels this season and last.

Seriously they must worry, he is holding up their entire forward line and without him they would find themselves struggling for 2nd place in the EPL.

He is certanliy taking the piss out of the forwards at Manure.

[Elliott]

This is'nt a question of hope, so please dont confuse me for someone who has 'given up' on Chelsea, because i never will.

But if you are asking who is the better team at the moment, i would say it's United. And if you are asking me who is more likely to win the Premiership, not to mention the European Cup, i would say it's United. Shoot me down in flames if you like, but i dont think those things are ridiculous things to suggest.

Of course we still have a chance. I'm not debating that, but going back to what i originally said; It's their's to throw away now, and they must be favourites for the Champs League to boot. I for one, would be over the moon if Chelsea started playing some of the football that United have shown this season.

Going back to what Dorset has said about Avi; of course the media dont expect him to get one over Fergie. That's unthinkable. AND it would certainly ruin their little media love-in. Trouble is, i'm not altogether convinced he can do it either. Even with one fantastic result against Arsenal. (And it was fantastic - i was there!).